NEWTOWN -- The three members of the state delegation who represent a portion of the town have announced upcoming public hearings on topics related to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.

The series of hearings are intended to gather public opinion on school safety, gun violence prevention and mental health issues before legislation is proposed.

"The purpose of the group is to conduct a review of current law and make recommendations on a range of potential legislation to prevent gun violence, enhance school security and ensure proper mental health services in Connecticut,'' said a news release issued jointly by Republican state Reps. Mitch Bolinsky, DebraLee Hovey, Dan Carter.

The three legislators representing Newtown will be part of the bipartisan Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention and Children's Safety that will be offering recommendations for a bipartisan emergency bill in March.

The bill will be in response to the shooting deaths of 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14.